Syrian opposition ready for dialogue - Lavrov

Even uncompromising opposition figures in Syria who until recently said President Bashar Assad should resign have realized the need for dialog with the Middle East country’s authorities, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

“The key thing we feel now is that the issue of dialog is becoming a priority, including among those who have until recently rejected our calls for the start of such talks between the government and the opposition and said the resignation of President Bashar Assad is the precondition for any such contacts,” Lavrov told journalists on Tuesday.

Lavrov added that the opposition no longer demanded such preconditions. Russia - along with China - has refused to approve UN sanctions against the government of Syrian Presidnet Bashar Assad, whose forces the international community has accused of widespread human rights abuses.

However, Moscow has repeatedly stated it has no interest in seeing Assad remain in power, but is concerned that unilateral sanctions would create a power vacuum that would lead to more violence.

About 70,000 people have died in Syria since the start of the uprising against Assad in March 2011, according to UN figures.